Mark Almond/Birmingham NewsUAB quarterback Joe Webb hands off to running back Jim Mitchell As defensive lineman D.J. Reese (97) closes in during practice. The Blazers won only two games last season, but Webb says his goal this year is "to have a winning record and go to a bowl game."

Judge the expectations by comparing them to last year's disaster and it doesn't take a large stride for Neil Callaway's UAB football team to show improvement.

With practice time and full-scale scrimmages the only indicator thus far, UAB does look to be improved from last year's team, which finished 2-10 with just one victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision team. Statistically, the defense was one of the worst in the country and the offense wasn't productive enough to bail the Blazers out.

The UAB players and coaching staff seem convinced that a repeat of that unsatisfactory performance is not likely.

"Like Coach Callaway said to us, we're 1,000 miles ahead of where we were last year at this time," said UAB defensive end Bryant Turner.

Callaway says his team is bigger, stronger and more capable of winning games. Most of the players expected to contribute have experience, even if that consisted solely of last year's misery.

But what exactly does that mean in regard to a win-loss record? When you travel 1,000 miles from 2,000 miles behind the best teams in Conference USA, where does that leave you?

Three wins would be an improvement but is that enough?

Quarterback Joe Webb said that's not enough to reach his goals, which are "to have a winning record and go to a bowl game.

"We haven't been to a bowl game since 2004. We're just trying to turn the program around and turn it around in a hurry."

Webb may hold the key. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior has the ability to energize an offense with his right arm or his feet. He also has the charisma and desire to lead.

"He has the opportunity and ability to take this team where we want to go," said Tyson Helton, the Blazers' quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator.

UAB still has its challenges. The scholarship numbers are up from a year ago when Callaway's first team played with about 60 scholarship players. This year, in his second season as a head coach, Callaway estimates his program has about 69 scholarship players.

Youth is still a factor.

The most recent offensive two-deep depth chart includes two freshmen, eight sophomores and two seniors. And neither of the two seniors -- running back Aaron Johns and reserve quarterback Rodney Bivens Jr. -- has proven himself on the field at UAB.

The defensive depth chart includes six seniors but that's balanced out by six freshmen. Combine both sides of the ball and 20 freshmen and sophomores are in the two deep.

Grow up quickly -- as well as avoid crippling injuries -- and the Blazers could certainly improve the record against another beefed-up schedule that includes visits to Florida Atlantic, Tennessee and South Carolina. Mix those three games with a visit from one of the C-USA favorites, Tulsa, in the season opener and a matchup with Alabama State and a 1-4 start is very possible.

That's no way to chase the second bowl trip in school history but the good news is you don't have to win them all to achieve a goal that would be modest for some programs.

"I think if we can go to a bowl game that will be a huge step," said senior kicker/punter Swayze Waters. "That would be huge from last year's two wins to six or seven. You've seen the preseason rankings and stuff. I think we're a lot better team than everyone is expecting. We'll see if we can upset some people this year."